Internet Access becomes a fundamental right in Finland.

[Yared]

Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen.

From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection.

Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015.

In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law.

The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed.
Broadband commitment

Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment.

"Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said.

It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online and that only about 4,000 homes still need connecting to comply with the law.

In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%.

The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally binding ruling.

"The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan tough action on illegal file-sharing.

Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet connections of people who persistently download music or films for free.

The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach.

"We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden.

A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a fundamental right.

Sounds nice in theory... Let's just see how it works out.

Waddya think?

 

[gangleri2001]

 

[Cheetah]

Well, on first sight, it appears as a sensible idea that everyone needs to be able to be connected, and thus it should be made a right.

Still, I'm a little troubled by proscribing any rights to people other than the right to ones own life and property.

Out of curiosity - does people today have a right to a telephone, or a radio or TV?

 

[GhostWriter16]

Sounds nice in theory... Let's just see how it works out.

Waddya think?

People do not have rights to own things they do not earn themselves. You are taking from those who have more and giving to those who have less. I oppose socialism.

 

[Kozmos]

<<Insert Pravin Lal Quote about Information.>>

 

[GhostWriter16]

does people today have a right to a telephone, or a radio or TV?

NO!!!

They don't.

People have a right to what they themselves can earn.

 

[Ajidica]

THAT IS NOT SOCIALISM!!!!! Socialism is public ownership of business with the intent to redistribute. In Finland business is not publicly controlled, hence, it isn't socialism.

You are taking from those who have more and giving to those who have less.

You forget, Christ told us to do that. "I was hungry and you gave me food" and so on.

I would post more but I have to go.
On Topic: Good job Finland!

 

[Bill3000]

Not a particularly hard task for a small nation of several million which happens to be the most internetized nation in the world.

 

[GhostWriter16]

THAT IS NOT SOCIALISM!!!!! Socialism is public ownership of business with the intent to redistribute. In Finland business is not publicly controlled, hence, it isn't socialism.


You forget, Christ told us to do that. "I was hungry and you gave me food" and so on.

I would post more but I have to go.
On Topic: Good job Finland!

What Christ did not say to the government:

"I was hungry, and you stole from those who had more than me to give me food."

 

[Formaldehyde]

Not sure it makes much sense in some rural areas where people deliberately live far away from everybody else. Is everybody in Sweden even connected to a power utility?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

"I was hungry, and you stole from those who had more than me to give me food."

Taxes are not stole.

 

[Ekolite]

I oppose socialism.

We know

One day you'll find out what Socialism actually is, and you'll be really embarrased by all these posts of yours. EDIT: probably when you reach puberty.

 

[Bill3000]

Er, can we get back on topic peeps?

 

[luiz]

I think I have a fundamental right to own a Ferrari, and I demand to be given one at taxpayers' expense.

 

[Zelig]

Not a particularly hard task for a small nation of several million which happens to be the most internetized nation in the world.

This.

Particularly if you do it via cell phone networks.

 

[Cull]

We know

One day you'll find out what Socialism actually is, and you'll be really embarrased by all these posts of yours.

This is true.

I actually sort of like the idea, but, TBH, I want to see how this turns out. While some have said that it won't cost that much to do this in Finland, I'm not so sure.

I'm probably going see this post in like a year, and then wince at this no0b post.

 

[Quackers]

What if you don't want broadband?

 

[bombshoo]

Anyone unfortunate enough to live in Finland deserves some way to pass the time there.

 

[Bill3000]

What if you don't want broadband?

Don't use it, then?

I mean if you get free meals then you're free to not eat it and starve. Same thing applies here.

 

[Quackers]

But you have to pay for it though taxes.

Thats not fair right? It isn't something essential like a road.